Identifying Drivers of Nonconsensual Intimate Image Sharing: A Mixed-Methods Synthesis of Perpetrator Research

Echoing the many and serious consequences of nonconsensual sharing of intimate images (NCSII), calls for preventive measures have reverberated across public, legal, and academic discourses. However, at present, empirical insights that could aid the development of perpetrator-focused interventions remain fragmented. Responding to this predicament, we carried out a mixed-methods research synthesis through which we aimed to identify and distill all extant research on the psychosocial mechanisms of NCSII, focusing in particular on perpetrator motives and characteristics, as well as the social dynamics of NCSII incidents. A systematic search across six databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, PubPsych, PubMed, and ERIC) yielded 10,324 unique records, of which 68 peer-reviewed articles were deemed eligible following screening and full-text evaluation. Findings from quantitative (n = 55) and qualitative (n = 13) studies were synthesized separately and later integrated in an overarching discussion. Through this juxtaposition, we found that NCSII appears to primarily transpire as a form of homosocial bonding, initiated by individuals who tend to have more experiences with intimate sharing practices than non-perpetrators, and whose actions are situated in a wider social context of hegemonic masculinity, female sexual objectification, and sexism. Notably, although gender was not found to be a reliable predictor of perpetration, our synthesis indicates that the social dynamics of NCSII differ for boys/men and girls/women, underscoring the need for gender-sensitive approaches in both research and prevention.